Adam Selzer

Adam Selzer is a co-founder and senior director at Civilla, where he provides strategic leadership to help the organization realize its long-term vision. He focuses on building a future-facing, multidisciplinary team that builds on Civilla's foundation while preparing for new phases of growth and extended impact.

He plays a key role in shaping Civilla’s studio and culture into a collaborative space where storytelling, research, and creative problem-solving intersect. Adam also leads Civilla’s large-scale innovation strategy work, helping the organization respond to emerging challenges and opportunities. His work ensures that Civilla is well-positioned to scale its impact, deepen its partnerships, and bring innovative thinking to public institutions.

Adam brings a deep background in design leadership and teaching that helps him nurture people and projects across the organization. Before co-founding Civilla in 2015 (along with Lena and Mike), Adam worked as a design director at United Way for Southeastern Michigan, a lecturer and fellow at the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford University (the d.school), and a design and innovation consultant nationally and internationally.

Adam earned an MS from Stanford University in learning, design, and technology and a BS from Vanderbilt University in human and organizational development.